A Clean Bill of Health

Yesterday we took Deric to see a growth Specialist at Children's Hospital. This is a follow up to the results of his blood work taken a couple of weeks ago.

The Specialist took one look at us and said, "Why are you here, again?"

I said, "To check his Thyroid and to verify there was no abnormalities in form of a cancerous tumor causing rapid growth spurts."

Specialist said, "Did your Pediatrician see both you and dad?"

I said, "Yes."

Specialist said, "If I would have seen you 1st, I would have canceled the blood work request. I do not see any indication of abnormalities in his growth chart. Yes, he is in the top 99% for height, weight, and head circumference, but its growing on track as far as the growth chart goes, just at a higher rate. The problem lies when there is a substantial spike in growth, which by the way is very rare. And the most important fact of the matter is that Mom is 5'10 and Dad is 6'4. After a $40.00 co-pay, much frustration, and I must admit, a few tears from this overly protective 1st time mother. Case closed. Ahhhhhh... a sigh of relief.

Photo Contes: Vote 4 my Baby please

Please vote for my little guy! Voting is open from now until July 27th to vote for your favorite entry (The Arizona Parkmans). The entry with the most votes will win $25 to Marshalls & $25 to TJ Maxx! Voting is super fast, easy, and u don't even have 2b a Blogger to vote, just click below. Thank you!

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Frustrated w/the Medical Assistant

At 1 1/2 Deric is 3feet tall already. Apparently this can happen when a brain tumor is pushing down on the growth hormone so the Pediatrician phoned a Specialist at Children's Hospital. He said if Mom and Dad are tall, more than likely, baby is going 2b tall. You see, I am 5'10 and Dad is 6'4.

The Pediatrician still would like to lean on the side of precaution and sent us to get blood work just to make sure there was not an over active Thyroid gland.

This ____ bleep of an MA had no idea what she was doing. I knew something was up when she read the referral and said, "Hmmm... what's this? I never seen this one before." Ugh!
She poked the left arm and couldn't get a vein, then poked again in the vein and couldn't get blood. While the tube was in his little vein she was maneuvering it around trying to extract blood w/no luck. I was pretty strong until this point... when her efforts were unsuccessful she had to start on the other arm. My poor baby was screaming, looking at me, as to say "Mommy help!" Ugh, I tear up just to think of it. His cry was so much that ALL the nurses came into the room and the head Nurse actually took over. Ugh, what-a-day!

Can Terrible 2's start at 1_1/2?

This is the scene of a wild child at the bank, running a muck b4 heading off 2 get his blood drawn. He ran in and out of cubicles and gave me quite a work out. I thought "Terrible 2's" start @ 2. Is it possible they can start @ 18months? He is a very sweet boy but, the energy, the curiosity is outrageous. At 3feet, he is so tall and strong, he can get into places that most kids his age can't. He can reach, turn on and off the light switches. He can get on top of the chairs in the eat in kitchen and use them to get on top of the table. He has even tried to use the chair as a stepping stool to get on top of the kitchen island. A couple of weeks ago, he jumped out of his crib but, I'll blog about that later.

Our Future American Idol

Saturday, we attended Cyndi and Emilio's Karaoke Party. Deric sat on my lap, (oddly) very still and quite, just observing. After an hour, he jumped off my lap and ran streight to his Daddy, stole the mic, and was a-singing and a-dancin... all night long. There was no seperating him from the mic. Oh and there is no decieving him. I turned off the volume to his mic and he knew there was no volume so he took over the 2nd mic. Emilio went upstairs and got the mic to his Rock Band and did the ol switch-a-roo but he rejected it. Dad was so proud that we're going next weekend to the Karaoke store to purchase our own unit =)

Teething???... Again???...

Tuesday (the closet day) Deric was scratching his gums and kind of fussy (and here I am, snapping photos lol). He has had 16-teeth since his 1st BDay, 8 top and 8 bottom.

I went on line and pulled this developmental growth chart for children. Pretty interesting that from 8-13 months, the average is 6 baby teeth. Deric doubled that at that age. No wonder why he loves water... he may be turning into a little shark (he he).

Just a Closet or a Hidden Fortress?

I purposely avoid Deric's bedroom closet so that he would not get into it and disorganize. Well 2day, he figured it out! Oh yes, there he goes w/the doors: open-close-open-close. Then he got in the closet and closed the door, then starts all over again. This child is not afraid of the dark. I guess his curiosity over powers any fear. I really hope he out grows this stage... quickly =)

I Love Summer Photo Contest entry for Island Life

This is my entry picture for the "I love Summer" photo contest by Island Life. Living in AZ, we don't have beautiful beaches so we love to spend our summer days at Water Parks. I took this photo at Big Surf in the kiddy section. I absolutely LOVE this photo! I just want 2 kiss his fat cheeks 2 pieces.

VOTE HERE!

"I'm blowing this joint!"

We gave away Deric's crib at 10 months, when we moved into the new house, and moved him into his twin size Race Car Bed. The side of the car worked as side rails so he was unable to fall off, or get out for that matter, until about 13months when he grew brave enough to figure out he could very easily get out. He found it challenging to get back in so, we bought him this little step stool and it did the trick.

Now the problem is keeping him in bed at night. So we had to bring in his play pin into his room. We inserted an egg crate mattress and lots of blankets under that so it was nice and cushiony. Oh and lets not forget the satin sheets. He loved the ones in our bed room soooo much that I had to get him his own. This worked beautifully until a he actually jumped out of his play pin! I know, I could not believe it. Oh geez, what are we going to do now?! We're going to have to get a video monitoring unit for his room so we can keep a visual while having the door closed. One of the draw backs of having a 3 foot tall 1 year old.

He seems so grown up to me =(

Deric (18monthes) seemed like such a big boy to me Saturday when we had dinner at Garcia's. His highchair was placed right next to me in place of a chair instead of the walk way. I don't know, I was just missing my baby but still very proud to see him look so grown up, in a child-like way.

He is so well behaved and just sat there coloring and drinking his juice.

Ah, sooo full. This is Deric with Barney sing & play book, on our way home.

18 month check up

Height: 36 inches...... >99%

Weight: 39 lbs....... >99%

Developmental... Above average

Develop. Score.... 35/60

Develop. Average.... 26/60

Deric had his 18month child check up yesterday and his growth pattern for height and weight continues to be off the charts. The percentile is over 99%. His Pediatrician is not concerned with his weight as he is growing proportionally. She did fill out a refferal to Childrens Hospital for so they could review his growth hormone, just as a precaution.

He also scored above average on his developmental quiz. This quiz charts the progress of children between the age of 18monthes - 3 years of age. This consist of 60 questions, and Average is 26/60. Deric answered 35/60. Needless to say, he did very well.

1st Drawing

I gave Deric a pen and he loved writting on this note pad. I was soo proud I had to display on the fridge door, just like a 1st time mommy would. Yes me, who does not care for clutter on the appliances, made an exception for this masterpiece. When Dad got home from work and saw the display, he was very excited and shared my pride.

Who's Deric's bestfriend?

Last night, Deric woke every 1/2 hour crying & nothing would ease him. We tried holding him, rocking him, singing to him but nothing worked. Then I stayed up to observe him. Maybe his body language would speak to me, such as a tug at the ear. About 20 min's later I saw him toss & turn with his little arm reaching.... reaching high reaching low then there goes the water works. Then I realized that Deric was searching & missing his "Blanket".

OMGoodness, I knew he loved his Blanket but I had no idea he had grown that attached to it. So there I go at 2AM washing & drying his beloved Blanket. The reason I had to put him to bed w/it is because it needed washing.

I believe this whole Blanket thing started after watching The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland. Its a movie which teaches children the importance of sharing through Elmo's trials which came due to not sharing his beloved Blanket.

Which Sippy Cup is right for ur baby?

We were introduced to the challenges of attempting to transition Deric from the bottle to the sippy cup. This challenge being really foreign to us since every mild stone from birth til now have all been so effortless.

We tried every make & style with no luck until yesterday. I keep a "big boy" cup for when Deric's older cousins & friends come over. The type of cup with a lid & straw.

Yesterday Deric turned 17months & thought, I'd try the "big boy" cup... & it worked! I told my sister & she said I was the exact same way bypassing the sippy cup going directly to a child's cup.

Hide & Go Seek

When I was little, I use to love hanging out under my mothers dinning room table. This table sat 12, & was so long it seemed to go on for days. I remember imagining myself in my own little world. Once, my mother "lost" me. She looked all over the house & could not find me. She searched high & low & was about to notify the authorities when low & behold, my sister found me. Can u guess where? Yes, under the table. So to see my son following Mama's hiding little footsteps, was very warming to me & obviously brought back a these memories of my young life.

My mother gave me her antique solid mahogany wood table. Unfortunately, it was part of the loss we experienced in the fire of the storage unit right b4 moving into our new home. These are the legs of the table after the fire.

Mother's Day

Mother's Day........................................................ Oh how Motherhood has changed my life, for the better. As I look back, I had a great life but little did I know that this little man had the power to fill a void in which I had no idea existed. I am soo blessed to have him in my life. Deric, thank you for choosing me 2b ur Mommy. U r the best gift God could have ever given me.

We drove out to Chandler for a Mother's Day BBQ hosted by Seli & Ralph (my sister & brother-in-law). Rib-Eye steak, chicken, macaroni salad, & good ol'baked beans were on the menu. While my Dad blended us SkinnyGirl Margaritas. We had a great day.

Oh & special thank u2 Eric & Deric for giving Mama the beautiful pair of Candle-like lamps I so very much wanted from my fav decor store, Kirkland's. And thank u2 my sister Selina, for the "Booty-Shorts" PJ's by Candies... sooo cute.... & Eric appreciates them as well ;)

Hats off to all the mothers in the world... Heres 2 u, & all u do.

Lady's Man (already)

Deric has never met these girls in his life, with the exception of his cousin LiAnna on the top of the with pig tails. He actually sat himself on this girls lap like if she were Santa Clause. Too cute!

A visit to the Doctor

We took Deric in for his check up & vaccination. I usually take a blanket due to the chilly temperatures in the Dr's office but I forgot so I put a
hoodie on him. The Dr said, "Oh my, look at you Deric, u look so cool in your hoodie." LOL!

I thought, look its chilly in ur freakin office lady, where you require children to wait for you naked. Any who, Deric was not very happy about the whole situation.

Deric has been at the top 97% for height, weight, & head circumference for babies his age since birth (PS- he was born 1month early). At his 12month check up he exceeded the 100% & I quote from the Dr, "Wow, he is off the charts!" This had never been a problem til now, the Dr is concerned about his rapid growth.

She said he could have a brain tumor pushing down on growth hormone causing rapid growth. She would like to speak to a Specialist at the Children's Hospital before referring us. She contacted us the next day to say the Specialist said, "If Dad is tall, & Mom is tall, more than likely, baby is going to be tall." That was one of those duh moments but, better safe than sorry.

Deric's vocabulary at 15 months

1. Momma
2. Dad
3. No, no, no
4. Papa (Food/spanish)
5. Tee-tee (Bottle/spanish)
6. Hi
7. Bye-Bye
8. Yeaaaaaaa
9. I did it
10. Nah-Nah (Blanket)

Sign Language

1. No
2. Eat
3. Milk/Bottle
4. Bye
5. Poop
6. Star

Deric's 1st 4th of July

We were thrilled that Grandpa & Grandma aka "Lola" Parkman drove down from California & spent the 4th of July weekend with us.